Before the challenge began, Smith’s Wood’s maths teacher told his teams he wanted them to finish first, second and third – and by the end of the day, the academy’s best mathematicians had come remarkably close.
It was the first maths competition held by Fairfax Multi-Academy Trust, which includes Smith’s Wood Academy, Fairfax Academy, Erdington Academy and Bournville All-Through School.
The competition brought together ten teams of high-performing Year 8 and 9 mathematicians from across the Trust’s four schools. Smith’s Wood Academy emerged as overall winners, with Fairfax Academy finishing just two points behind in second place and another Smith’s Wood team securing third.
Year 9 Smith’s Wood student Riley W, said maths is his favourite subject, and he even set up an after-school maths club with his friend in Year 7.
He added: “I’ve always been one of the top mathematicians in my class, even in primary school, it’s just something I was born with. But this competition, it’s something I’m used to – lots of maths questions, but the team element is different so you are relying on other people as well, so it can be harder but then there are more minds working on one question.”
Smith’s Wood Maths teacher, Mr Trafford, said the event was the perfect opportunity to stretch the most able students. He explained that two of the Year 9 pupils taking part had already passed GCSE papers in Year 7.
“They also like this sense of competition and so do I,” he said. “Hopefully it will keep going in future years.”
The challenge featured multiple rounds inspired by UKMT competitions, including group problem-solving, paired tasks with limited communication, and a fast-paced relay round that demanded accuracy under pressure. The all-girl Smith’s Wood team – Kiara T, Scarlett S, Valery O and Joeliyn E -took the lead in Round 1, with other teams unable to close the gap.
The event was hosted at Fairfax Academy and supported by their Year 12 students, whose maturity and leadership were praised by organiser Miss Thompson, Academy Improvement Advisor for Maths and Numeracy. She said the students had chosen to stay and help run the event despite most of their year group being on a reward trip, and that the day simply wouldn’t have been possible without them.
Miss Thompson will now be gathering feedback from staff and students, with hopes of making the Maths Challenge an annual FMAT event.
